VSC, TRAC, and Check engine lights on

[jham]

My lights came on in my 01 today while passing someone on the interstate. Downshifted to pass (slush box) and they came on. No codes thrown as I run a scangauge. CEL VSC and TRAC are all on.

Its going to the dealership Monday morning for diagnostics since its not throwing any codes. Once I find out the problem, I'll buy the parts and fix it myself.

I bought this thing 3 weeks ago. Come on!

 

[jham]

Update: dealership said cylinder 4 misfire. Plugs are new, their best guess was the coil is causing some arcing.

On a side note, the tech recommended unplugging the scangauge. Said that could be causing the issue.

Did I read somewhere that a constant OBDII scanner in these things can cause problems?

 

[toytrukn78]

Hi all,

Had the same problem this morning, CEL, TRAC, and VSC lights came on. I got gas last night and turns out the cap wasn't on tight enough. Disconnected the battery for about 20 minutes and the lights cleared up. Hopefully this will fix your problems too

 

[iDRiVaT4R]

Had the same thing happen to my 07' this morning. I got in turned up the heater, the temp gauge showed 41 degrees outside. I was getting all ready to leave and then looked at my dash, the VSC lights, and check engine light were all on. Turned off the ignition, turned it back on, still there. I thought maybe an ABS line came disconnected or something. I then realized I had a Scangauge and checked the code, PO456. Searched it on my iPhone, read it was EVAP, So I removed the gas cap, reinstalled. Lights were still on so I turned off the code.

If I get it again I'll get it checked out. I just installed a diff breather and have it exiting around the gas cap area so maybe I loosened something up. Time will tell.

 

[madmax 06]

Hi guys and gals, new here as an "official" memeber, but have been lurking for quite awhile. My wife's '06 sport edition has had theses three lights on for a couple weeks now. However, they came on once before about a year ago, and I had surfed this forum back then for possible answers, as I don't like taking any vehicle into the dealer blindly. They tried to tell me the Trac/VSC lights were on because my rotors were shot, along with the pads, and I needed a whole new brake rebuild. Well, I already knew this was false because I had just had new pads installed at my mechanic's business a few weeks prior. I called them out on it, and they knew I was not one to be "ripped" off. I told them of this forum, and that I knew that the lights were most likely due to it needing to be re-zeroed, and mentioned the TSB. The service manager said he knew nothing about it. I had them pull it up while I was standing there. They then took it in and apparently did the re-zero, and pulled it back out and low and behold the lights were off.

Fast forward to a week or so ago, and the TRAC/VSC lights are on again. No CEL though. I did have a low air pressure light on tho. I checked all 5 tires and sure enough, the spare was about 8-10 lbs low. I filled the spare, unhooked the battery for about 30 minutes, and just for the heck of it, checked the gas cap.

Re-hooked battery, and all dash lights were off!! Yeah....until I put my foot on the brake pedal. TRAC/VSC lights came back on. Uuuuugh!!! However, I noticed that if I shut off the igintion, the lights went back out and only came back on again once I pressed the brake pedal, whereas they were on before as soon as you started the vehicle, wether or not the brake pedal was pushed. So, it appears that things are starting to get narrowed possibly as t what the problem is. Maybe brake system related?? I will go get a new gas cap just to be sure the stock one is sealing or not, and then go from there.

Sorry for being so long winded, but wanted to be as accurate and detailed of the events,, so that maybe someone here who has tried always these things, may have more ideas.

Thanks to you all for any advice.

 

[madmax 06]

Oh, and one last thing! My wife just called me while she was on her way to work, and now all of a sudden her rear windshield wiper, defroster and wiper fluid don't work. What the???? Could this be one heck of a qwinky dink, or did something get affected by disconnecting the battery. Everything else works.

I guess I will check the fuse when she gets home tonight.

 

[dbfoerster]

I have a similar issue.

Started my 2006 4 Runner Sport 4.7 last night and a lot of the idiot lights came on and have not gone off. Check Engine light, VSC Off light, Traction Control light and VSC Traction light. I went to the local auto parts store to get the diagnostics code and they came up with P0712. Did a little research and found that it could be the transmission fluid temp sensor or related to it. Has anyone had any experiance with this issue. Before I had the code checked I did check the gas cap and it was tight.

 

[madmax 06]

Ok, did a little more research on here, and found out how to re-set the rear window and sun roof after disconnecting the battery. On my way to Auto Zone to get a new gas cap and see if I can get the TRAC/VSC lights to finally shut off. Snow is on it's way.

 

[dbfoerster]

I have a similar issue.

Started my 2006 4 Runner Sport 4.7 last night and a lot of the idiot lights came on and have not gone off. Check Engine light, VSC Off light, Traction Control light and VSC Traction light. I went to the local auto parts store to get the diagnostics code and they came up with P0712. Did a little research and found that it could be the transmission fluid temp sensor or related to it. Has anyone had any experiance with this issue. Before I had the code checked I did check the gas cap and it was tight.

Well before I could do anything, I filled up with gas and all the lights went out. I did notice that the gas cap was NOT tight does not ever get tight. Just for the heck of it I am going to buy a new gas cap-WIERD STUFF.

 

[DuManchu]

Had this exact thing happen to me today. What's worse is my code reader apparently decided to stop working today as well.

Turns out mine was just the gas cap. The one that was on it would click, but it wasn't actually tightening. Ran to NAPA, grabbed a new cap, ditched the old one, unplugged the battery to clear the code, and blam! No more CEL/TRAC lights!

I'm just glad it was the gas cap, easy to fix and diagnose without a code reader.

Guess I have a good excuse to get a ScanGauge II now

 

[scrooster]

It amazing that this many people are experiencing this problem ... we've had the exact same thing happen to our 4runner and it too was, on different occassions:

1 - Gas Cap
2 - #6 cylinder
3 - and we keep having the same TRAC/VSC lights issues as well.
4 - O2 sensor

It's been a good little SUV that we've bought new with 3 miles on the odo ... but it sure has been quirky.

 

[smallfry]

It just happened to my 3rd gen and I just replaced the rear O2 sensor and so far so good.

 

[SilverGs]

I'm glad I stumbled on this thread.

I have a 05 Sport Edition V6 with 186K Km (or 115K miles). Just bought the truck about a month ago.

This morning I got the CEL and VSC/TRAC lights on. I'll check the gas cap when I get home tonight and disconnect the battery to see if it clears the code.

Does the disconnect of the have to be simply to disconnect and reconnect it back immediately or do I need to leave it disconnected for a specific amount of time?

 

[eddie in nc]

New Gas Cap

2006 4WD Sport Edition. Just wanted to post that I had the CEL and Trac Lights go on about a month ago and I tried a few of the quick fixes but the lights came back on. Then I really looked at the gas cap and the seal appeared somewhat deteriorated. I went to the dealership and got a new gas cap, ~ $28, installed it and a few days later the lights went off and have been off for a week now, knock on wood.

 

[bren861]

I have a 2003 4 Runner 6c. My check engine and VSC Track VSC off lights are on. The truck seems to be running ok, except for a little hesitation at red lights. Im trying to avoid the dealership. They want 103.00 just to put in on the computer. There's a lot of talk in the forum that it may be the 02 sensors. Is that something my neighborhood mechanic can fix, or do I have to take it to the dealer?

 

[Seano777]

Update on check engine light with VSC lights

Yes. The gas cap being loose or off will cause the check engine light to come on as well as the VSC lights. Why.... Probably a broad code systems for techs. Just tighten the gas cap and remove positive connector to battery. Once power has been disabled, reconnect and check engine light & VSC lights turn off.
2008 4Runner The sensor/CAT and everything else were fine.

 

[haro4x4]

I disconnect the battery to replace my hid bulb and reconnect the battery and started the truck and the engine light and VSC Track VSC come on. than the VSC Track VSC lights turn off now I have the engine light on

 

[Kayeffsee04]

Vsc/Trac lights

Same thing happened to my 2004 Toyota 4runner SR5. Grr! Thanks for all the helpful information! I totally panicked when the light came on...

 

[ayazdadla]

Toyota V8 engine defect.

Please chime in ...

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[trentchristopher]

CEL and VSC Lights -> Gas Cap & Battery Disconnect

Hi Guys and Gals,

Long-time reader, first-time poster. I have a 2005 SR5 4WD (105k miles) that I left sit for two weeks while on a business trip. My wife fired it up once about a week in. When I came home and fired up the beast, it struggled to keep idling and shook. So, I applied the accelerator in neutral and blew out quite a bit of smoke. Then, it began idling ok. (My wife said it idled "like a diesel" when she drove it, too.) We went about our errands and a couple hours later, and three stops, the Check Engine Light and three VSC lights came on. I popped the hood and notice my AFE CAI was missing 2 screws, and there was a ton of dried leaves on the perimeter of the engine bay, but everything else "looked" fairly normal.

When we got home, I checked this forum and decided to try 1) getting a new gas cap and 2) replacing the CAI housing screws. $33 later (local Bay Area dealership) and $1.50 (local OSH) later and the idiot lights were still ablaze. So, I disconnected the battery and left it unplugged for a bit while I did other things. Came back, hooked up the battery, and fired it up. Voila; no more idiot lights.

I'm a hobby mechanical, weekend warrior at best, so can't tell you exactly what went wrong. But, I think the gas tank collected condensation while it sat for a couple of weeks due to the gas cap not being all too great, causing it to blow smoke on startup. Probably something with the poor vacuum sealing of the original cap coupled with the condensation triggered one of the O2 sensors to freak out. O2 sensor freaked out and the "system" threw the CEL and cut all "unnecessary" electric amenities (ie VSC). New gas cap probably fixed the vacuum leak and driving it around a little bit probably got rid of the condensation that freaked out the O2 sensor. Battery disconnect allowed the "system" to re-evaluate itself and realize that everything was A-OK again. I don't think replacing the lost screws did anything but give me the warm and fuzzies.

Thanks to all who posted prior. Your experience saved me from an undoubtedly costly trip to the mechanic.

arty:

-tcm